We didn't set out to start an au pair company. We found a way of family life that worked so well for us that we wanted to share it.
When we became parents, we knew we wanted to stay deeply involved in our daughter's life without giving up the other parts of ourselves that mattered too - our careers, travel, friendships, relationship and active lifestyle. Like so many new parents, we quickly realised how difficult it can be to find childcare that genuinely fits around real family life, particularly when both parents work, schedules change and travel is part of the picture. At the same time, childcare costs in America continue to rise, and yet paying more does not always mean receiving more personal, flexible or better-matched care.
As a South African, I loved the idea of bringing someone from my home country into our family, and we had a hunch that the right au pair could offer something more than traditional childcare. We wanted someone capable, warm and ambitious who would genuinely enjoy our lifestyle and become a familiar, trusted part of our daughter's world. That is exactly what happened. Since she was born, we have travelled with her to five countries, continued working, stayed active and maintained the relationships and routines that matter to us. Our au pair has made that possible in a way that feels incredibly natural - not by removing the chaos of family life, but by giving us another capable person beside us to navigate it with.
As a South African, I know the culture, the education system and the kind of young people the country produces. There is a warmth, resilience and practicality that translates incredibly well into family life, along with a willingness to get involved and adapt when plans inevitably change. Many young South Africans are also ambitious, well educated and eager to experience more of the world.
Of course, nationality alone does not make someone a great au pair. Personality, maturity, values and experience matter enormously. But we believe South Africa has an exceptional pool of young people who could bring something genuinely positive to American families, while gaining an equally valuable experience themselves.
Childcare in America is expensive, and for many families the cost continues to rise without necessarily creating a more personal or flexible experience. A full-time nanny in many major US cities can cost upwards of $60,000 a year, while hosting an au pair can be substantially less depending on the program and family.
But for us, the value goes beyond cost. If both parents work, you travel regularly or your schedule changes from week to week, having someone your child already knows and trusts can make family life significantly easier. The right au pair offers continuity, flexibility and another engaged person in your child's world — value that is difficult to reduce to an hourly rate.
We created Global Au Pair because we believe the quality of the match matters more than the size of the agency. We want to understand how our host families actually live, what they value and what kind of person will fit naturally into their home. And we want to know our au pairs just as well — their personalities, ambitions, experience and what they hope to gain from their year abroad.
The best au pair relationships are not simply childcare arrangements. A family gains someone they trust and enjoy having in their lives, while an au pair gains experience, independence, travel, mentorship and exposure to opportunities she may not otherwise have had. Our own experience showed us how valuable that relationship can be, and Global Au Pair exists to help more families and young South Africans find that same kind of fit.